Simple Past vs.
Past Continuous

Use the simple
past for:
1) action that
happened in the
past and is . . .
over, done, finished
Use the past
continuous for:
1) action that was in
progress at a specific
point in the past OR
2) focusing on an
action that continued
for a long time in the
past

Simple Past (Examples)
Action that was completed in the past:
Tom went fishing last week.
I worked until 2:00 p.m. yesterday.
My family came to visit me last year.
*Time Expressions frequently used with
the simple past:
yesterday, last ______,
past dates (in 1990), _____ ago, etc.

Past Continuous (Examples)

•
cried
•
lived
•
did
Look at the following
list of past tense
verbs…
which verbs are
regular, and which
are irregular?

Regular verbs

Irregular verbs

For regular verbs, simply use the –ed form of the
verb in a positive sentence.
When I was a child, I ___________ the piano.
Donna ______________ and _______________
in Paris when she was younger.

For irregular verbs, use the correct
past tense form in positive sentences.
Last week, I ___________ you a letter.
The students _____________ a speech in
English. They __________ a great job!